Bag-fastener.



W. GREENE.

BAG FASTENER'.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 7, 1910.

Patented Jan. 17,1911;

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UNITED s'ra'rns rg'rnnr onnrcn.

WALLACE GREENE, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

BAG-FASTENER.

Application filed. April '7, 1910.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, lVALLAcn GREENE, citizen of the United States, residing at lvashington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bag-Fasteners, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

The object of this invention is toprovide a positively locking bag fastener of the twin knob type. Usually bags having this type of fastening are provided with hinged jaws having certain rigidly attached projecting devices but having no distinctly movable parts whatever. Ordinarily each of two knobs pushes its companion aside slightly as the jaws approach closed position, the most prominent portion of each passing slightly past the like part of the other and the resilience of the supporting parts giving a yielding, non-positive engagement. Force equal and opposite to the closing force opens the bag, and such force is often supplied by the contents of a well filled bag,-with resulting annoyance and loss. These evils are eliminated by this invention.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1, is a plan view of companion bag jaws positively locked by my devices. Fig. 2, is a like view showing the fastenings about to engage or disengage according as the jaws further open or close. Fig. 8, is a side elevation of the devices of Fig. 1. Figs. 4: and 5, are fragmentary views similar to Figs. 1 and 3, respectively, showing a slight modification in the forms of the parts. Figs 6, 7, show in like manner another differing form. Fig. 8, is a diagram illustrating the movement of spherical knobs to permanently locking position.

The end sought is attained by arranging the knobs or projections to pass around each other so far as to interlock positively or hook-like.

In the preferred construction illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, and 8, the interlocking projections are not spherical but flattened so that little springing of the jaws may be required. In these figures, A A represent the ordinary pivotally connected bag jaws, B a flattened knob or projection supported from the jaw A, by a stem C projecting from its own jaw toward or over the companion jaw. The plane of this projection is vertical and inclined to the planes of the closed jaws. A similar stem C similarly Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 17, 1911.

Serial No. 553,979.

supports from the aw A a like and likeinclined knob B. The two are shown as circular disks having rounded margins and they are so located relatively on the jaws that as the latter close the broad inclined face of the one impinges on the corresponding face of the other, sothat jaw-closing force causes themto press each other oppositely, springing the jaws or stems, or

both, until the rounded edges of the disks pass when the resilience of the parts throws each behind the other 1nto positive engagement, which aw openlng force tends to 111- crease, owing to the direction of inclination of the surfaces at the point of contact. Obviously, the projections or disks engage automatically when the jaws are pressed together just as do the knobs of the common form, but in this case the interlocking is positive. In disengaging, the projections, pressure in the direction of the arrows is applied at X and X Fig. 1, by the fingers, precisely as in the common form; but here we have a better, nearly fiat surface for the fingers.

The construction gives, with no change in cost, all the advantages of the common form, yet the locking is positive, or in other words only breaking or permanently distorting opening force applied to the jaws can open the bag.

Figs. 4: and 5 show the projections as fiattened, vertical, oblique cylinders, D D carried by stems E E.

Figs. 6 and 7 show the engaging projections F F as short supplemental extensions, knobs G G being provided to be seized by the fingers, the operation being analogous to that already described.

When the projections are made spherical knobs, in closing the bag, the knob H first meets its companion H as shown in the dotted lines in Fig. 8, and then passes more than half way around it to the position indicated in full lines. It is plain from the diagram that the fingers must here be used in looking as well as in unlocking and that the displacement of the knobs is relatively large.

It is essential that the engaging members interlock positively, or in such manner that simple opening force does not tend to disengagement. It is not even indispensable that the engaging projections be the finger operated projections, but in all the forms, the positively locking bag jaws are provided with means whereby the thumb and finger of one hand may simultaneously press them from each other as well as longitudinally in opposite directions out of positive locking engagement.

I desire to claim the invention as broadly as the state of the art will permit and with no limitations other than such as may be expressed in the claims as they may be allowed.

What I claim is:

1. In fastenings of the class described, a pair of pivotally connected bag jaws provided with rigidly attached projections adapted for positive or hooked engagement and for receiving from the thumb and finger pressure tending both to move the jaws oppositely in'a longitudinal direction and away from each other.

2. The combination with metal bag jaws, of projections rigidly mounted upon the jaws, respectively, and adapted in form and position to pass around each other into hooked engagement when the jaws come together.

3. The combination with hinged bag aws of a flattened knob mounted upon one jaw in an approximately vertical plane inclined to the plane of the closed jaws, and a second similar knob mounted upon the opposite jaw, the two knobs being in position to force each other aside, as the jaws close, and pass around each other into positive or hooked engagement.

4:. In fasteners for bags of the class described, mutually engaging projections having engaging faces inclined at acute angles to the lines of stress tending to open the bag and tending to move into larger engagement with each other under such stress, in combination with supporting means for said projections permitting them to be sprung clear of each other for opening the bag.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

. WALLACE GREENE.

lVitnesses:

JAMES L. CRAWFORD, R. CRAIG GREENE. 

